Book excerpt: "This picture book traces the impressive career of Sophie Kowalevski, the first woman to receive a doctorate in mathematics requiring original research. As a girl, Sophie is fascinated by the equations her father uses to wallpaper her room. She proves herself a prodigy, and tutors are impressed enough to give her private lessons. Despite universities that refuse to allow women on campus or to pay them to teach, Sophie is able to distinguish herself with her research into partial differential equations. Sophie receives a doctorate and becomes the first female professional mathematician in Northern Europe. The book mentions several of Kowalevski's mathematical contributions and closes with an encouraging message about women in mathematics"--